New electronics recycling rules take effect Wednesday
By Joe Taschler of the Journal Sentinel


Juan Rosas grabs an old computer tower for disassembling inside of
Waste Management’s facility, set up solely to disassemble computers
and other electronic equipment.
Close As of Wednesday, Wisconsin's electronics recycling law bans the
use of landfills or incineration to dispose of electronic devices. The
ban covers televisions; computers (including desktop, laptop, netbook
and tablet computers); computer monitors; desktop printers (including
those that scan, fax, or copy); other computer accessories, including
keyboards, mice, speakers, external hard drives and flash drives; DVD
players, DVRs, VCRs and other video players; Fax machines; and cell
phones.

The ban covers everyone in the state, and applies no matter where a
device was purchased or who used it. Households, schools, businesses,
governments and institutions are all covered under the ban.

Electronics contain reusable materials including precious metals,
steel, glass, plastics and others. "Recycling or reusing these
materials reduces environmental impacts and economic costs by reducing
the need for virgin materials in new electronics," according to the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources .

For more, check out a DNR list at dnr.wi.gov of used electronics
drop-off sites. The sites are listed by county. You may need to pay a
small fee to recycle your electronics.